Research on the Rise of Circulatory Endothelin (ET)- 1 and Endothelin Receptors (ETA, ETB) Expression in Kidney of Obese Wistar Rat

Background: Endothelin (ET)-1, a circulatory protein, and its receptors (ETA and ETB) in various
organs were reported to play a pivotal role in many diseases, including obesity. The study is designed
to observe the level of circulatory ET-1 and expression of ETA/ETB in ventricle and kidney of obese,
as compared to non-obese, Wistar rats.
Methods: Groups of obese 14 and 34 weeks Wistar rats were compared to non-obese controls at
similar ages. The concentration of circulatory ET-1, ETA and ETB of ventricle and kidney were
measured by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique after the termination of both
groups at 14th and 24th weeks.
Results: The level of circulatory ET-1, expression of ETA and ETB in kidney, and LDL of obese rats
were significantly higher than control rats (T-Test, P<0.05) in the elder groups, while no differences of
the ETA and ETB were found in the ventricle. No differences of the levels of circulatory ET-1, ETA and
ETB expression were found between obese and control groups of younger rats (P>0.05). HDL levels
were under normal value for both groups.
Conclusion: Obesity in elder obese rats leads to dysregulation of kidney vessels through activity of
ET-1 and ETA/ETB.